Clinical Testing Report for Mamaearth Lemon Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Conditioner

A: In a CTRI-registered study conducted by CCFT Laboratories on human volunteers under controlled conditions, the shampoo and conditioner substantiated up to 100% dandruff reduction in one wash. The active ingredient doing that work is zinc pyrithione, which has decades of published clinical evidence behind it. The study registration, CTRI/2025/08/092241, is searchable at ctri.nic.in.

A: Three times a week is the standard guidance for an anti-dandruff shampoo. Dandruff is a recurring condition, so consistency matters more than any single wash. Once your scalp is clear, many people drop to once or twice a week to maintain.

A: Dandruff is driven by Malassezia yeast, sebum, and individual susceptibility, so it responds best to an ongoing routine rather than a one-off course. Keeping the shampoo in rotation is what keeps a scalp clear.

A: That is the standard complaint about anti-dandruff shampoos, and it is why softness was measured in the same study - 3X softer and smoother hair in one wash. The formula is sulfate-free and includes cationic conditioning agents and panthenol. Using the matching conditioner is how the products were tested.

A: No. Zinc pyrithione is the anti-dandruff active. Lemon and ginger contribute to cleansing, scalp comfort, and the sensory experience. Being clear about this is the point: the 100% figure is credible precisely because a proven antifungal is doing the work.

A: You can, though most people find three times a week is all they need. The active works through consistency rather than frequency, so a steady routine gets you further than daily washing.

A: Both target Malassezia, with different actives. Ketoconazole shampoos are typically pharmacy products used for more stubborn dandruff and for seborrhoeic dermatitis. This is a cosmetic anti-dandruff shampoo using zinc pyrithione, designed for regular use. If dandruff persists despite a consistent routine, a doctor can advise on next steps.

A: Dandruff and itch usually travel together, since both stem from the same scalp irritation, so settling one tends to settle the other. The formula includes ginger extract and a cooling agent for scalp comfort, and the study substantiated dandruff reduction as its certified endpoint.

A: The shampoo and conditioner were tested together as a regimen, and the 3X softness result reflects that pairing. Use the conditioner on mid-lengths and ends, keeping it off the scalp.

A: The formula is sulfate-free, silicone-free, and paraben-free, which is the profile generally preferred for coloured hair. Colour retention itself is measured in a separate kind of study.

A: This study covers cosmetic dandruff, not diagnosed conditions. Seborrheic dermatitis and scalp psoriasis need medical management, and anyone with either should follow their dermatologist’s advice.

A: Yes. Give it 2 to 3 minutes on the scalp before rinsing so the active has contact time. Rinsing immediately is one of the most common reasons an anti-dandruff shampoo underperforms.

A: Yes. CTRI/2025/08/092241 is a Clinical Trials Registry - India number, searchable at ctri.nic.in. The record exists independently of Mamaearth, which is why it is printed on the certificate and on this page.

With an active ingredient used consistently, not with a one-off wash. Zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, and selenium sulphide are the ingredients with real evidence, and they work by controlling Malassezia, the scalp yeast behind most dandruff. This shampoo uses zinc pyrithione and, in a CTRI-registered study, substantiated up to 100% dandruff reduction in one wash. Use it three times a week, leave it on the scalp 2–3 minutes before rinsing, and keep going once it clears.

Dandruff is a condition you keep under control rather than clear once, because Malassezia yeast is a normal resident of nearly everyone’s scalp. What changes with treatment is whether it causes flaking - and that responds well to consistency. Regular use of an active shampoo keeps a scalp clear, which is why the routine matters as much as the product.

Three things together: Malassezia yeast feeding on scalp oils, how much sebum you produce, and how sensitive your particular scalp is to the by-products. That third factor is why two people with the same yeast levels can experience it very differently. Cold weather, stress, and washing less often all influence it, and regular washing with an active shampoo is what keeps it settled.

Indirectly, and usually temporarily. The follicle itself is unaffected, but scratching an itchy scalp breaks hairs mechanically, so hair fall and flaking often travel together. The good news is that settling the dandruff usually settles the shedding with it. If shedding continues once the scalp is clear, a doctor can look at what else might be going on.

The one whose active ingredient you can name. Zinc pyrithione, ketoconazole, and selenium sulphide all have published evidence; botanical-only shampoos generally do not. This shampoo uses zinc pyrithione, and its efficacy study is registered at CTRI/2025/08/092241, searchable at ctri.nic.in, which means you can check it independently of the brand.

Partly. Malassezia is a yeast, a type of fungus, and it lives on almost everyone’s scalp normally. Dandruff arises from how that yeast, your sebum, and your scalp’s sensitivity interact - which is exactly why an antifungal active such as zinc pyrithione is the ingredient to look for.

No - it is not passed between people. The yeast involved is already a normal resident on nearly everyone’s skin, so sharing a comb or a pillow makes no difference.

Visible flakes can clear substantially in a single wash with an effective active - this shampoo’s study substantiated up to 100% dandruff reduction in one wash, “up to” meaning the best result observed. To get the most from each wash, give it 2 to 3 minutes of contact time on the scalp before rinsing, and keep the routine going three times a week so the scalp stays clear.

Alongside an active shampoo, a few habits make a real difference: wash regularly rather than less often, keep heavy oiling light while the scalp is flaking since Malassezia feeds on lipids, and let the scalp settle rather than scratching. Home remedies such as lemon, curd, or apple cider vinegar are widely shared; if you use them, dilute well and patch test, and keep the active shampoo as the mainstay.